Features for systems and methods for loading items into a tray are disclosed. The system may have an item conveyor configured to move the items towards a tray conveyor. The tray conveyor may be configured to move trays to receive items from the item conveyor into the tray. One or more sensors may detect the height of the items on the item conveyor and/or in the tray, and/or the position of the trays on the tray conveyor. A controller may receive data related to the one or more detected heights of the items and/or the position of the trays on the tray conveyor and correspondingly control movement of the item and/or tray conveyors for efficient loading of items into the tray and efficient movement of the trays for further processing. Tray conveyor movement sensors may detect movement of the trays or tray conveyors for further control or reliability of the system.

An image forming apparatus which prevents degradation of sheets stacked in a stacking unit. A sheet feeding unit has a first stacking unit and a second stacking unit. When sheets stacked in the first stacking unit have run out, sheets stacked in the second stacking unit are moved to the first stacking unit. A remaining amount of sheets in the sheet feeding unit is indicated on a display unit. When sheets are stacked in the second stacking unit, the display unit provides an indication that a remaining amount of sheets in the sheet feeding unit is the largest.

An image forming apparatus includes a display unit, an image forming unit, a detecting unit to detect whether a sheet is on the tray, a moving unit to cause the tray to ascend and to descend to a lower limit position per a tray sheet amount, and a determination unit to determine that tray descent is interrupted at a position located higher than the lower limit position. At the lower limit position, a screen prompting tray sheet removal is displayed. When the tray descent is interrupted, a screen is displayed to include a tray sheet removal prompt and a notice that an obstacle presents under the tray, an image forming process is stopped, and then the tray is caused to ascend when the sheets are not on the tray and then the image forming process is resumed, even if the obstacle presents under the tray.

An image forming apparatus includes a display unit, an image forming unit, a detecting unit to detect whether a sheet is on the tray, a moving unit to cause the tray to ascend and to descend to a lower limit position per a tray sheet amount, and a determination unit to determine that tray descent is interrupted at a position located higher than the lower limit position. At the lower limit position, a screen prompting tray sheet removal is displayed. When the tray descent is interrupted, a screen is displayed to include a tray sheet removal prompt and a notice that an obstacle presents under the tray, an image forming process is stopped, and then the tray is caused to ascend when the sheets are not on the tray and then the image forming process is resumed, even if the obstacle presents under the tray.

Even when descending of a sheet stacking unit is interrupted by an obstacle, sheet stacking operation is resumed in a range in which the sheet stacking unit is movable.

A depalletizing machine for picking up and moving groups of articles, specifically bundles of blanks, includes a containing structure internally provided with at least one receiving area for a movable magazine containing one or more groups of articles. The machine also includes at least one access opening for allowing the magazine to be inserted into, or removed from, the receiving area. The machine also includes a collection zone configured for receiving a succession of groups of articles from the movable magazine and for moving the groups of articles towards the outside of the machine. The machine also includes at least one sensor configured for detecting a position of the movable magazine within the at least one receiving area and a pickup head configured to pick up groups of articles from the movable magazine and transferring them into the collection zone. The machine also includes a control unit configured for setting a predetermined law of motion for the pickup head as a function of at least one information item obtained from the sensor, regarding the position of the movable magazine.

Personnel saving of a process from a printer to a sheet processing machine is achieved. A general printing management device is connected to be communicable with a conveyance management device that manages a plurality of automatic guided vehicles each conveying a stacker in which paper ejected from a printer is stackable. The general printing management device generates conveyance instruction information for conveying a stacker in which paper ejected from the printer is stacked from a sheet receiving position of the printer to a sheet supply position of a next processing machine, based on job information in which a manufacturing process procedure for manufacturing a printed product is registered, and transmits the conveyance instruction information to the conveyance management device.

The present invention relates to a handling installation for handling sheets of cardboard or similar material applicable for implementation thereof in an automated production facility, comprising a first receiving station (1) configured to receive packages formed by cardboard sheets, each of the sheets being defined by four sides, and a second distribution station (2) in which the sheets are delivered face-down coming from the receiving station by means of sheet handling means. The first and second stations comprise modules that are independent from each other, the handling means comprising a robot arm provided with a head with clamping means to hold the package of sheets on any of the four sides, the head having a hinge point that can be coupled to a robot arm, capable of conveniently moving and orienting the clamping means in any of the coordinate axes, the robot arm being mounted on a base that is independent with respect to the first and second stations.